Anti-skid tire chain attachment



April 6, 1955 M. F. RICKENBACK" 2,707,015

ANTI-SKID TIRE CHAIN ATTACI-IDENT I Filed June 14, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 26, 1955 M. F. RICKENBACK 2,707,015 ANTI-SKID TIRE CHAIN ATTACHMENT Filed June 14, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 21 wk F? 5, 25 1:11-

United States Patent cc 2,707,015

Patented Apr. 26, 1955 l 2 is pulled taut by a combination pull and connector mounted on the cable or the latter retracted upon reverse movement thereof.

2,707,015 With the above and other objects in view Itlhis invention consists of the details of construction ereinafter ANTI'SKID TIRE CHAIN ATTACHMENT set forth and then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this in- Mmam Rlckenback Woodbury vention appertains may understand how to make and use Application June 1 1952 serial 9 0 the same I will describe its construction in detail referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings form- 12 Claims. (Cl. 152-213) ing a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a phantom view, in perspective, of a portion of an automobile wheel and tire with the attachment mounted thereon and one end of an anti-skid tire chain My invention relates to a new and useful anti-skid connected thereto illustrating the initial operation in tire chain attachment and has for one of its ob ects to mounting a tire chain employing my invention. pro uce an attachment which, when connected to a tire Fig 2 is a side view of the device in two positions relacharn, Wlll facilitate and expedite the mounting of the tive to a wheel shown in phantom to illustrate the beg1nc am on a tire, especially elther rear tire, to WhlCl'l acning and completion of the operations for mounting the cess is rather dilficult on modern cars because of the attachment and anti-skid chain on the whee. low anging apron side of the fender. Fig 3 also is a phantom view, in perspective, of a pornot er object of the invention is to provide an attion of an automobile wheel and tire with both ends of tachment of the character mentioned whereby all conthe ant1-sk1d chain connected WlIl'l the attachment and nectrons and the mounting of the cham on a tire are acwrapped around the trre and showing in dot and dash comphshed from the outside of a wheel thus eliminating lines several positions of some of the elements durmg the the necesslty of the operator assuming a kneehng or re mounting of the anti-skid chain and also the final ascumbent position on the ground. sembly of all of the parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide means Fig. 4 is an outer end view of the anchoring member. whereby an operator may substantially simultaneously In carrying out my invention as herein embodied 10 connect and mount both side chains of an anti-skid tire represents the substantially U-shaped anchoring member chain while in a slightly stooped position at the outer or of hollow or tubular formation including a cross-piece near side of a wheel. 11 and a pair of substantially parallel arms 12 and 13,

Another object of the present invention is to provide the terminals 14 of which, preferably, project at apan attachment of the class mentioned which becomes, in proximately right angles to the balance of the respecetfect, a part of the anti-skid chain while in use and tive arms. Viewing the wheels from beside the car and functions as one of the cross chains. considering that the mounting of the chains is partially In present day or modern cars only a small portion of accomplished by revolving said wheels in the direction a rear wheel tire is exposed below its respective car of forward travel of the car, which is the most convenfender and the balance thereof is practically inaccessiient manner of mounting, the angular terminals 14 are to ble making it exceedingly diflicult to apply an anti-skid be assumed as projecting forwardly with relation to the chain thereto unless the operator assumes a recumbent anchoring member as a whole whether used on either a position at one time, to adjust and connect the inner right hand or left hand wheel. side chain, and a kneeling position at another time, to A cable 15 of any appropriate material with a miniadjust and connect the outer side chain. Another obmum amount of expansability and considerable flexiject of this invention is to overcome the above outlined bility is doubled upon itself to plovide a shiftable bight disadvantages by providing an attachment including an 16 and two branches l7 and 18. In the bight or loop anchoring member for temporary connection to a tire 16 of the cable 15 is mounted the combination pull and and held in place by friction and the resiliency of the connector 19 comprising a pulley 20, or other anti-frictire and to which the connectors or books at one end of lien guide, and a 1100K pr f rably of the spring snap variety. The cable branches pass through an opening in sald anchoring member and of suflicient length to per- 22 in the arm 12, which 1s to be situated at the outer mit the ends thereof to be connected to the opposite end side of the tire and wheel when the device is in use, and of the anti-skid chain at a location an appreciable dis- One P Sald branches, as 17, 111118 through the terminal end tance from the wheel and said opposite end of the anti POIUOH the arm and P j ffem the terminal in operative position by the cable only, through the meble branch 17 is a hook 23 also, preferably, of the spring dium of the anchoring member, when said cable is pulled p YP The other Cable branch, as runs through taut and secured to some appropriate part of the antithe inner end Portion of the arm the Cress-Piece 11 kid hain a to a link f the outer id h i and the arm 13 and projects from the terminal end of A further object of the invention is to provide an anti- Said arm 13 and Said C l an h 18 also has a hook skid tire chain attachment in which portions of the oppreferably of The Spring p p 011 the eXtreml'tY erations of mounting the anti-skid chains on two tires Thereofcan be performed simultaneously thereby saving consid- 011 each arm 12, 13 adjacent the terminal d h r f erable time which is highly advantageous during in- IS all eye 25 and the two eyes of a Single anchoring l t w th 6r member, preferably, are located on the outer sides of A still further object of the present invention is to protheir reepeehle arms although 1t 15 Possible that y be duce afil anti-skid tire Ichain attachment consisting of a h g to Project from The leading trailing faces f enera -s ed sal arms. E e b -g g a i g 31 1 fig zggg igfijg ig gfi f; To assist in keeping the interior of the anchoring memfriction and/or the compressing effect of said anchoring her dry condition Said member may be Perforated member on the resilient tire, Said member having eyes on at desirable and suitable locations but, particularly, the the arms thereof adjacent the terminals of said arms to 055131666 11 has a plurality of drainage holes 26 in h receive the connectors or hooks at one end of an antrouter slde theheof so that any Water having a tendency skid chain and a folded cable of Wire or fibre or an to accumulate in the anchoring member will be disgorged equivalent thereof such as a Chain having the end or by centrifugal force resulting from the revolving of the tions r unning through the anchoring member with the ex- Wheels- Said cross'pieee 11 y, if desired, s

tremltres projecting from the arm terminals and provided have cleats 27 thereon, especially on the outer side therewith hooks for connection to the other end of the antio r he W ll Wn Purpose. Skld chain and the bight of the cable projecting through The anti-skid tire chain 28 is of any well known conan opening in one of the arms of the anchoring memstructron and includes the side chains 29 with connectors her, the location of said bight being shifted as the cable or hooks 30 at one end and suitably spaced cross chains 31 which may have cleats 32 thereon. This tire chain portion of a tire and to which one end of a tire chain is is to be wrapped around the tire 33 mounted on a wheel adapted to be temporarily connected, said anchoring 34, said tire and wheel being shown in phantom since member to remain in place on the tire as long as the chain they actually do not comprise any part of the invention. is employed, extensible flexible means slidable within In mounting a tire chain 28 on a tire by the employsaid anchoring member and having two ends and an inment of this attachment, one end of each side chain is termediate loop projecting from and exposed outside of secured to the separate arms 12, 13 of the anchoring said anchoring member, said ends adapted to be temmember, as by connecting the hooks or connectors 30 to porarily connected to the other end of the tire chain and the eyes 25 on said arms. The anchoring member is manually retracted by pulling upon the loop to draw said then placed on the tire in a straddling or embracing con 10 other end of said tire chain towards said anchoring memdition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, whereby the crossher and thereby tighten the tire chain about the tire, and piece 11 will be imposed on the circumference of the a single attaching means shiftably mounted on the loop tire and the arms 12, 13 will snugly engage opposite sides of the extensible flexible means to be attached at a single of said tire with the arm 12 positioned on the outer side location on the tire chain for holding said extensible of the tire. The anchoring member is applied to an 15 flexible means retracted and taut. exposed portion of the tire just above the ground level 2. A tire chain attachment adapted for utilization in and below the fender apron or drop and the tire chain expeditiously mounting a tire chain on a tire, drawing may be laid out in back of the wheel, Fig. 2. As previthe ends of the tire chain towards one another and holdously stated the anchoring member snugly fits and in fact ing such chain taut in place on the tire, comprising an the space between the arms should be slightly less than a h g member Consisting of a Cross-Piece and a P the width of the tire so that when assembling the anchorof substantially parallel arms projecting from said crossing member on the tire the latter will be compressed a piece, said anchoring member to be placed on the tire in small amount to provide a gripping action sufficiently embracing gripping relation thereto with the cross-piece strong to retain said anchoring member in place even extending crosswise of the perimeter and the arms radiunder the strain of pulling the tire chain onto the tire as ally of the sides of said tire, one end of the tire chain to the wheel is revolved. A convenient way to initially be connected to Said anchoring member, a folded cable partially wrap the chain around the perimeter of the tire providing two branches guided by the anchoring memis to drive the car forwardly until the wheel makes one h r and aid ranches having means whereby sai revolution so as to return the anchoring member to the branches may e onn ct d to the other end of the tire approximate tarting position whereby it will again be chain at a distance away from the side Of the vehicle 011 exposed and easily accessible. which the tire is mounted, the fold of the cable adapted Before the time th wheel i being revolved th i e to be pulled to retract the branch ends into the anchoring side branch is of the cable 15 may be pulled out and its member for bringing the ends of the tire in close hook 24 connected to the outer side chain of the tire together and tightening Said the chain 011 the and chain as shown in Fig. 1. This will prevent the parts means on said cable to be fastened to the tire chain for from becoming entangled and locate the hook 24 in a holding the latter taut.

position readily accessible to the operator. By Carrying 3. A tire chain attachment according to claim 2 whereout the aforementioned operations substantially simulinfhe arms of the anchoring member have y s t r n taneously, the perator may observo the position of the ad acent the terminals thereof to receive the Side chain attachment on the left hand wheel from the drivers seat hooks Connectors at one and 0f the tire Chainand will know that the one on the right hand wheel is T the chain attachment according to Claim 2 in the same relative position. The hook 24 then can be Wherelh the means on the cable for holding it taut is disconnected from its temporary position and fastened a combination P1111 and connector Comprising an to the free end of the inner side chain of the tire chain meht engaging the Shittahle hight of said Cable d a while said inner side chain is resting on the perimeter of hookthe tire or even hanging over the outer side of said tire.

tll'e chain attachment adapted for use in mount- Next the outer side branch 17 of the cable is pulled until g a tlfe Chain 011 a tire f m h ut r Side of a Wheel its hook 23 can be and is fastened to the free end of the lh h the ground level, drawing the n s f he tir outer side chain of said tire chain, all as shown in full chalh Into Proximity to one another and holding Said h i i 3 The ulli of the cable branch 7 out tire chain taut in place on the tire, comprising a hollow of the anchoring member will shorten the cable branch F Q member to be Placed on the the in embracing 18 and draw the free end of the inner side chain over onto g PP relation thereto, Said anchoring member includthe inner side of the tire. When all parts are connected a U -P and a P of arms Projecting from Said th bi i ll d Connector 19 il b i the cross-plece in substantially parallel relation to each other, approximate position illustrated at A in Fig. 3. The 'P lying transversely across the the P attachment and tire chain are now ready to be finally ltneter Wlth the arms engaging the Side Walls Of Said fi d i position d b lli outwardly on i tlre, one end of the tire chain to be connected to said bination pull and connector 19 until the approximate ahchoflhg mfimbel, and a folded cable including tWO position designated 3 the hooks 23 4 will be drawn to branches and a shiftable bight, the said branches threaded the terminals 14 and the tire chain will be taut. Finally, through an Opening in the anchoring m r m 1 the combination pull and connector 19 is fastened to a P on the outer Side of the the and one branch P link of the outer side chain of the tire chain as shown at mg through the terminal end of said arm Wi C the location of which will be some distance from the the other branch Passing through the other e11d Portion anchoring member as will be apparent from the right 9 531d Outer firm, the (moss-Pia;e and the PP hand illustration of Fig. 2 but during the attaching op- Inner m, sald branches projecting from the terminals eration said location C will be below the apron or drop of the r especuve arms and having connectors on the f the f d and readily accessible. extremities for fastening to the other end of the tire To dismount the tire chain it is only necessary to chain and be drawn towards the first mentioned end of lease the combination pull and connector 19 from the the ,tlre chain as the cable is manually drawn P by tire side chain and slacken the cable which will permit Punmg on the shiftable cable bightthe tire chain to be pulled over the tire until access is Structure according to claim 5 wherein the had to the hook 24. Upon disconnection of both hooks termmals the anchoring member arms Project 23 d 24 the car may be driven f dl or backwardly wardly relative to the direction of travel of the device so the tire chain will fall off and the wheel moved beyond on a forwardly traveling wheel' said tire chain. The attachment can then be removed structure aCCPYdiHg to claim 5 whirein the and the whole apparatus stored as aunit. operlmg the 0.11m slde i for the cable 13 in the of course I do not Wish to be limited to the exact leading side of said arm relative to a forwardly traveling details of construction herein shown and described as Whel" 8. The structure accordln to claim 5 wherein the y be vaned the of the ,appenfied anchoring member has drain ge holes therein. cla1ms wlthout departing from the splrlt of mynnventron. 9 The Structure according to claim 5 wherein thg g ge f i y lhtehtloh What I clalm as new cross-piece has drainage holes in the outer surface thereof an use u 15. whereby centrifugal force will drain a liquid from the 1. An anti-skid tire chain attachment comprising a anchoring member.

rigid tubular anchoring member adapted to embrace a 10. The structure according to claim 5, in combina- 2,707,015 tion with eyes on the anchoring member arms adjacent the arms and through the separate arms and projecting their outer ends to receive connectors on the side chains from the terminals of said arms with the bight outat one end of the tire chain. side of the anchoring member, spring snap hooks on 1. The structure according to claim 5, 1n combinathe extremities of said cable branches, and a combined tion With a combined pull and connector consisting of 5 pull and connector mounted on the inside of the shifta pulley mounted in the shiftable cable bight and a hook able cable bight whereby the branches ma to fasten to a portion of the tire chain to hold the latter or drawn into and partially through the anch oring memin a taut condition. her and fastened in the retracted position.

2 As an article of manufacture, a tire chain attachment comprising a generally U-shaped hollow 21m 10 References Cited in the file of this patent choring member including a cross-piece and substantia ly parallel arms projecting from said cross-piece with the UNITED STATES PATENTS terminals of said arms constantly open, a doubled cable 1,571,764 Edwards Feb. 2, 1926 consisting of two branches and a shiftable bight, said 2,500,373 OConnor Mar. 14, 1950 cable branches threaded through an opening in one of 15 2,646,099 Johnson July 21, 1953 

